20 Gifts for the Productivity Nerd in Your Life (2011 Edition)

They say “it’s the thought that counts,” but everyone knows you get major bonus points for giving gifts that your special someone will actually use. So without further ado, welcome to the 99U’s highly curated and pragmatic guide to holiday shopping. Whether it’s getting organized, stimulating your brain, rocking out at your desk, or just transporting your gear, we’ve got something for that special (nerdy) someone in your life.

Slice Box Cutter ($19.99) Winner of the Red Dot Design award, this is the Bentley of box cutters. The perfect gift for the serial online shopper with a constant flow of boxes to break down!

PlugBug ($35) Made for all Macbook power adapters, PlugBug streamlines the charging process by allowing you to charge your laptop and your iPad or iPhone from one outlet with one cord. As Thoreau said, “Simplify, simplify.”

UP bracelet ($99.99) For those fond of data tracking, Jawbone’s new UP bracelet is pretty much the ultimate gift. The lightweight band wraps around your wrist and tracks your eating, sleep, and activity habits to promote healthier living.Editor’s UPdate: Apparently, the Jawbone UP is experiencing serious hardware issues, so you might want to wait until they get them resolved to investigate this product!

Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar 2012 Calendar ($45) This charming calendar from Helsinki-based designer Noa Bembibre presents funny little phrases built around the letters of each month. Printed in a limited-edition run of 700, these will sell out fast, so order asap.

003 Track Headphones ($84) For great quality sound and a nice look, these slim profile AIAIAI headphones are just the ticket. Ear cups detach for packing, and they have a 3-button, in-line microphone for call, music, and volume control. Nice.

Bakelite Pencil Sharpener ($17) If you know one of those crazy creatives who still uses pencils, this Bakelite sharpener may be the perfect stocking stuffer. It fits two sizes of pencils, and is made of duroplast – a recycled material that is reportedly “as strong as steel.”

Takumi Jet Lag Clock ($40) If you don’t want to be tethered to your mobile phone for all your clocking needs, the Jet Lag Travel Clock offers a clean and simple alternative. It’s good looking, low-profile, and has all the functionality you need and not a button more.

BEAMS Pack from InCase ($179.95) Normally, we wouldn’t have included such an expensive backpack, but this new collab between InCase and premium Japanese brand Beams cannot be ignored. With padded pockets for your Macbook pro AND your iPad, this super-stylish backpack is a tech nerd’s wet dream.

Kaweko Classic Sport Rollerball ($22) When screwed shut, this classic Kaweko sport pen is just about the length of an iPhone. It delivers a nice, bold line, comes in a range of classy colors, and fits neatly in even tiny pockets. Can’t go wrong here.

Holstee Manifesto Poster ($25) Need a daily kick in the ass? Or perhaps a reminder that life is short? Just place this Holstee manifesto poster over your desk and you’re good to go.

Bamboo Bottle ($25) With a bamboo wrapper around a glass container, this high-design water bottle is sustainable, portable, and accommodates hot and cold beverages without fear of those icky BPAs.

Pivot Power ($29.99) Solve the issue of plugging lots of large adapters into one power strip with Pivot Power from the inventor-driven product design company Quirky.

Folding Pocket Scissors ($8) Like to run around with your scissors but still play it safe? These foldable steel pocket scissors are great for snipping on the go, and they look pretty damn slick, too.

Bookman Bike Lights ($29.99 for two) Bike lights should always come in twos, shouldn’t they? This pair includes one white light and one red light that strap onto your cycle with a dead simple bungee cord attachment system. A great stocking stuffer for the fixee crowd.

Felt iPad Sleeve ($52) Like to stash your Apple electronics in style? Rib and Hull makes a lovely line of felt and leather cases for stashing your iPad, Macbook Pro, and Macbook Air.

Lynda.com Gift Subscription ($25) Got a friend who needs to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro or some other creative software? You can give the gift of knowledge with a 1-month membership to Lynda.com’s awesome software tutorials.